ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The San Francisco State softball team dropped a 1-0 decision to host Sonoma State in the first game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader Sunday at Seawolf Softball Field. The two teams were tied at 2-2 at the start of the 13th inning in game two when play was suspended due to darkness.
The opener featured a pitcher's duel as the Seawolves (8-2, 5-0 CCAA) capitalized on two Gator throwing errors in the bottom of the first inning, scoring an unearned run on Brittany Martinez's sacrifice fly to grab a 1-0 lead.
That was all of the support pitcher Samantha Lipperd (4-1) would need as the SSU starter struck out eight batters and gave up just two hits with two walks for the complete-game shutout. Ashley Jackson (1-5), meanwhile, absorbed another tough-luck loss after allowing four hits and no walks in six innings.
SF State (2-8, 0-5 CCAA) put a runner aboard in the top of the second after Kendra Wood singled through the left side and took second on Summer Powell's sacrifice bunt. After a walk to Kylie Grabowski, Wood was caught stealing at third, while pinch-runner Lauren Maslak advanced on the throw and moved up on a subsequent wild pitch. However, the SF State threat was extinguished moments later on a pop-out.
Grabowski also delivered a one-out single in the fifth, but once again Lipperd pitched out of trouble, getting a strikeout and line-out to end the inning.
In the nightcap, the Gators finally dented the scoreboard in the top of the first when Alyssa Esquibel drove in Kylie Herrada with a single to left center. Herrada led off with a walk and advanced to second on Heather Jensen's sacrifice bunt.
The Seawolves knotted the score in the sixth when Rochelle Vanyi walked, stole second and subsequently touched home on Skylynn Myers' single to right center.
The contest moved to extra innings where Grabowski's RBI single in the top of the ninth plated pinch-runner Kelsey Murkami, giving the Gators a 2-1 edge. However, SSU tied things up in the bottom of the frame after Jesse Talaugon doubled home Myers, who led off with a single and was bunted over to second by Ali Palermo.
SF State starter Marisa Ibarra gave up four hits and one walk in four innings, before yielding to Jackson to begin the fifth. Conversely, SSU reliever Julianne Martinez fanned eight batters in 7 1/3 innings of relief, allowing one run on four hits and two walks after taking over for starter Ciara Becerril.
The two teams will finish the suspended game on Monday in Rohnert Park, starting at 11 a.m., followed by the series' concluding doubleheader.
Game One Box Score
